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Home | BakerHostetler

of the Policy Committee, the firm’s highest governing body, are women

BakerHostetler’s Women’s Committee is dedicated to the support, promotion and advancement of women lawyers at the firm. The Committee is led by partners <a href="/professionals/ernessa-m-brawley/">Ernessa M. Brawley</a> and <a href="/professionals/alexis-c-beachdell/">Alexis C. Beachdell</a>. Working in collaboration with our local office women’s committees, the Committee sponsors and promotes a broad range of internal and external programming, resources and opportunities to support long-term successful careers for our women attorneys.

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Atlanta

Partner

Ernessa M. Brawley

Cleveland

Alexis C. Beachdell

Women’s Committee

BakerHostetler’s Women’s Committee provides recommendations to management on topics important to women in the legal profession. The firm was a key signatory to the Women’s Gender Fairness Initiative by the Houston Bar Association, and our former Houston office managing partner, Lisa Pennington, was the first woman to manage a major law office in Texas. Today, the firmwide Women’s Committee is comprised of over 60 women lawyers from across BakerHostetler. It provides support, connection and robust programming to all women attorneys. The Women’s Committee is led by partners <a href="/professionals/ernessa-m-brawley/">Ernessa M. Brawley</a> and <a href="/professionals/alexis-c-beachdell/">Alexis C. Beachdell</a>.
Women attorneys serve in leadership roles at every level of BakerHostetler’s management.  20 percent of the Policy Committee are women, and one of our fastest growing offices is led by a woman managing partner.

Women in Leadership

The Women’s Committee has recently developed several initiatives to increase mentorship and connection among women across BakerHostetler as well. The Women’s Committee recently launched Mentoring Circles, a cross-office mentoring program that matches women attorneys of all levels from varying practice groups and offices into small-group “circles,” where women will connect multiple times during the year to share experiences. Women partners in leadership also host a monthly coffee and conversation session for women to connect cross office.

Training and Development

Women attorneys need opportunities to build and cultivate strong networks. BakerHostetler is proud to partner with Ellevate, a professional community for high-achieving women around the world, as an Ellevate Corporate Champion. We also run a Business Development Coaching program for senior associates and partners, which provides programming and individualized coaching from other firm partners on business development over a 12-month period.
The 2020 coaching class was 52 percent women. In addition, our local Women’s Committees provide professional networking opportunities for women attorneys, which help our women build client relationships and lead on issues benefitting the legal profession and their communities.
Past events have included:
<ul>
<li>An Evening with Abby Wambach</li>
<li>An Evening with Valerie Jarrett</li>
<li>A FEED Supper with Lauren Bush</li>
<li>An Evening with Tina Brown</li>
<li>An Evening with Christina Tosi</li>
<li>SKIP Initiative, including an Evening with Piper Kerman</li>
</ul>

Business Development and Networking

BakerHostetler appreciates that lawyers may need flexibility and additional resources, particularly 
(although not only) when raising families while practicing law. We are proud to offer a highly 
personalized new parent outreach program that includes resources, expertise and creative support 
from early pregnancy or adoption to a baby’s first birthday.
<ul>
<li>Parent attorneys are paired with a “power” mentor, a peer mentor and a cross-office mentor, 
each of whom provides information, support and advocacy for new parents before, during 
and after parental leave.</li>
<li>We also offer personal, one-on-one coaching. This valuable program provides our women 
attorneys with additional customized support, both as they return to work from parental leave 
and as they navigate other important milestones when raising young children.</li>
<li>The firm is proud to partner with Bright Horizons for a backup child care and family support 
benefit that is offered to all attorneys and staff.</li>
<li>We offer a “milk stork” program for nursing moms who are traveling for work, as well as 
“sanctuary space” nursing rooms in several offices featuring refrigerators, sinks, microwaves, 
storage cubbies, parent libraries and nursing supplies.</li>
</ul>
In the spring of 2020, the Women’s Committee formed Baker Parent Connections, a program for men and women parent attorneys to connect and share guidance about balancing work with parenthood, which was particularly necessary during the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Women’s Committee also sponsored presentations in 2020 by two well-regarded lawyer coaches. Presentations included Increasing Visibility in a Remote Work Environment, Tips for Working from Home with Children, and More Than Just Treading Water: How to Survive and Grow as a Working Parent Right Now.

Women’s Committee

Women in Leadership

Training and Development

Business Development and Networking

New Parent Programming

Women in Leadership

Training and Development

Business Development and Networking

New Parent Programming

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